Planking construction



April 19, 1966 L, R, LYON 3,246,349

PLANKING CONS TRUCTION Filed Nov. 2, 1964 INVENTOR Jymdrf 4 5/071 United 'States Patent O 3,246,349 PLANKIN G CONSTRUCTION Lyman R. Lyon, 1731 Bassett Road, Royal 02k, Mich. Filed Nov. 2, 1964, Ser. No. 408,061 7 Clams. (Cl. 9-6) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 159,967 filed December 18, 1961, now Patent No. 3,156,2l for Planking Construction for Boats and the Like.

This invention relates generally to planks for the con- Struction of high Strength fiuid tight panels or walls, and more particularly to an improved plank-like structural element by means of which panels or Walls of high mechanical strength and high in-tegrity against leakage can be constructed rapidly and economically in compound curved as well as other forms.

The planks of the instant invention constitute an improvement over the planks disclosed in the above-entitled application and feature a seal that can be preassernbled with the planks, if desired, and which does not interfere With edge-to-edge assembly -of the planks. While the invention is illustrated as applied to boats, and has particular utility in that field, its usefulness extends to other applications where strong fiuid tight wall structures are clesired.

The advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a-front view of a boat hull utilizing the planking construction of the instant invention;

PIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken substantially within the circle 2 of FIGURE 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 showing a modified plank.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is shown in the environment of a boat 20, in this case, a boat having what is known as a non-developable 'null configuration. It is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to 'other curved or compound curved shapes, such as might be encountered in, for example, the construction of fiuid containers, buildings and other structures.

As seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, the hull of the boat 20 comprises a plurality of planks 24 having like upper edge or key portions 26 and like lower edge or groove portions 28, respectively. The upper and lower key and groove portions 26 and 23, respectively, of adjacent planks 24, are interlocked with one another to form a sealed, stress transmitting junction, as will be described.

The upper edge or key structure 26 of each plank 24 is of circular cross sectional configuration defined by a pair of circumferentially spaced arcuate surfaces or wall portions 30 and 32 lying in a common circle. The key structure 26 features a relieved portion 33 between the surfaces 30 and 32 which facilitates assembly vof the planks 24, as Will be described.

The key structure 26 is acceptable in the complementary i circular groove portion 28 in the next adjacent plank 24 which is of a diameter to accept the key structure 26 but thereafter to grip the key structure 26 tightly. The cireular groove portion 28 of each plank 24 is defined by a finger portion 36, a lower end 38 of which is accepted With a frictio-n fit between the arcuatesurface 32 of the key structure 26 and a generally concentrically and radially spaced locking projeetion 40.

The upper edge or key portion 26 of each plank 24, has a longitudinally extending channel 42 in the surface 30 thereof that is spaced from 'the relieved portion 33 for the acceptance of a sealing bead 44, for example, an extruded Silicon rubber bead. The sealing bead 44 communicates with the groove portion 28 of the next adjacent plank 24 thereby to effect a seal between the adjacent planks 24. The sealing bead 44 is inserted into the channel 42 prior to assembly of the planks 24.

Each plank 24 may be retained against a supporting structure by inserting a bolt or rivet 46 through a complernentary aper'ture 48 in the finger portion 36 thereof and through a hole 50 in a rib 52. After fastening |of each plank 24 to the rib 52, the next plank is assembledtherewith. The resultant junction between the planks 24 is capable of transmitting lateral Stress along all vectors.

After assembly, the looking portion 40 on the upper edge 26 of each plank 24 serves to pin the end portion 38 of the finger 36 on the next adjacent plank 24 against the arcuate surface 32 on the upper edge 26, thereby precluding bending or distortion of the groove 28 under load. It is also to be noted that the sealing bead 44 is disposed on the outboard side of all possible passages between the planks 24. Thus, no through-the-hull apertures or passages are required to be sealed to effect sealing between adjacent planks 24. Further, there are no pressure seal surfaces to be parted upon working of the boat hull.

The boat 20 is assembled by placing 'the upper edge or key portion 26 of one plank 24, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2, into the eircular groove portion 28 of a first secured plank 24. The relieved portion 33 facilitates this assembly. The lower plank 24 is then rotated relative to the affixed plank 24 until the end portion 38 of the fixed plank 24 moves into the space between the arcuate surface 32 and the locking projecton 40 on the lower plank 24. The lower plank 24 is then rotated until a desired angular orientation is effeoted between the planks 24 corresponding to the hull contour. The bolt or rivet 46 is then inserted and the operation repeated.

Since the sealing bead 44 is spaced from the relieved portion 33 of the plank 24 it can be preassembled therewith and presents no interference to the assembly operation while still effecting a positive Seal between the planks 24. In this manner a stress transmitting water-tight junction is obtained between the planks 24 without requiring a further assembly step of injecting a sealant.

As best seen in FIGURE 3 of the drawings, a modified plank has an upper edge or key portion 102 of circular cross sectional co-nfiguration similar to the plank 24 and defined by circumferentially spaced arcuate portions 104 and 106. The portions 104 and 106 are circumferentially spaced from one another by a radially inwardly relieved portion 108.. A looking projection 110 is radially spaced from the arcuate portion 106 for the acceptance of a finger 112 of a next adjacent plank 100. The finger 112 of each plank defines a groove portion 114 thereof.

In accordance with this embodiment of the instant invention, the lower edge or groove portion 114 of the plank 100 has a downwardly extending retaiuing flange 116 thereon for the acceptance of a bolt 118. The bolt 118 retains the planks 100 against a rib 120.

Because the bolt 118 is removed from the groove portion 114, or in other words, is inboard .of the finger portion 112 defining the lower edge portion or groove portion 114 of the plank 100, sealing can be effected between the planks 100 by a rubber sealing bead which is disposed inboard of the relieved portion 108 in, for example, a complernentary recess 132 at the base of the locking projection 110 of each plank 100. As the finger portion 112 of each plank moves into the space between the arcuate surface 106 and the looking projection 110, it compresses the rubber bead 30 to effect a seal between the planks 100.

It is to be noted that in order to plank compound Curved surfaces the moments of inertia of the planks 24 and 100 must be compatible with the surface being de- Veloped and the strength of the material used. In a constructed ernbodiment using 6062-T6 .aluminum and applied to an eighteen foot boat, the effective width, or in other words, the width between the central axes of the key and groove portion 26 and 28 of the planks 24 is one inch. This dimension permits bending of the planks 24 about all three normally related axes as is required to plank a compound surface.

While a preferred embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described in detail hereinabove, various additions, substitutions, modifications and omissions may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention as encompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a structural element in the nature of a relatively long and narr-ow plank having front and rear faces and having parallel longitudinal edges, a key structure comprising two cylindrical wall portions defining parts of a common cylinder extending along and parallel to one of said edges, said wall portions being located on opposite sides of and concentric with a longitudinal axis, both such wall portions projecting rearwardly with respect to said rear face, a generally cylindrical groove-defining portion extending along and parallel to the other edge and having a slot which opens into the groove from the general direction of the front face, .said groove having an internal diameter which corresponds to the effective eX- ternal diameter of the cylinder defined by said wall portions of the key structure, the diame-ter of the key structure and groove exceeding the width of said slot, a longitudinally extending rear portion of the key structure being relieved to reduce the front-to-rear dimension of the key structure sufiiciently to permit the key structure to be iuserted through the corresponding slot of another similar plank element and into the groove of the latter When the edges of the two elements are brought together with their faces lying a-t a substantial angle, whereby the two elements may thereafter be rocked about said axis toward substantially ooplanar relation and their respective interfitted key structure and groove-defining p'ortions are then effective to transmit stresses from -one to another of said elements at all angles to said axis, and means spaced from the relieved portion of said key structure communicating with each of said plank elements for efecting a seal therebetween. t

Z. A structural element as defined in claim '1 wherein one side of the groove-defining portion of said another element constitutes a free edge of said another element, and wherein said element has an abutment rib projecting :rearwardly in a position to lie beside the free edge of the groove-defining portion of said another element to oppose spreading thereof.

3. A structural element as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means is disposed externally of the groovedefining portion of said another structural element.

4. A structural element as defined in claim 1 wherein said sealing means is carried by and extends along said key structure between the front face and relieved portions thereof and sealingly engages the interior of the groovedefining portion of said another structural element.

5. In combination with a structural element as defined in claim 1, means engageable with said groove-defining portion for securing the structural element to a supporting rib.

6. In a structural element as defined in claim 1, means extending in spaced generally parallel relation to said face and rearwardly thereof for the acceptanee of a securing means.

7. A structural element as defined in elaim 1 formed of a relatively tough material which is sufiiciently bendable Within its elastic limit to conform to the desired contours ef a boat hull or the like, and wherein the key and groovedefining portions thereof are suiiiciently stiff to preclude separation thereof when interfitted with one another without flexing the same beyond the elastic limit of the material.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PAT ENTS 2,786,556 3/1957 Constance 189--34 FOREIGN PATENTS 113,476 2/1918 Great Britain. 616,268 3/1961 Canada.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

D. P. NOON, Assistant Eaamnler.z 

1. IN A STRUCTURAL ELEMENT IN THE NATURE OF A RELATIVELY LONG AND NARROW PLANK HAVING FRONT AND REAR FACES AND HAVING PARALLEL LONGITUDINAL EDGES, A KEY STRUCTURE COMPRISING TWO CYLINDRICAL WALL PORTIONS DEFINING PARTS OF A COMMON CYLINDER WALL PORTIONS DEFINING PARTS OF A SAID EDGES, SAID WALL PORTIONS BEING LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF AND CONCENTRIC WITH A LONGITUDINAL AXIS, BOTH SUCH WALL PORTIONS PROJECTING REARWARDLY WITH RESPECT TO SAID REAR FACE, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL GROOVE-DEFINING PORTION EXTENDING ALONG AND PARALLEL TO THE OTHER EDGE AND HAVING A SLOT WHICH OPENS INTO THE GROOVE FROM THE GENERAL DIRECTION OF THE FRONT FACE, SAID GROOVE HAVING AN INTERNAL DIAMETER WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE EFFECTIVE EXTERNAL DIAMETER OF THE CYLINDER DEFINED BY SAID WALL PORTIONS OF THE KEY STRUCTURE, THE DIAMETER OF THE KEY STRUCTURE AND GROOVE EXCEEDING THE WIDTH OF SAID SLOT, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING REAR PORTION OF THE KEY STRUCTURE BEING RELIEVED TO REDUCE THE FRONT-TO-REAR DIMENSION OF THE KEY STRUCTURE SUFFICIENTLY TO PERMIT THE KEY STRUCTURE TO BE INSERTED THROUGH THE CORRESPONDING SLOT OF ANOTHER SIMILAR PLANK ELEMENT AND INTO THE GROOVE OF THE LATTER WHEN THE EDGES OF THE TWO ELEMENTS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER WITH THEIR FACES LYING AT A SUBSTANTIAL ANGLE, WHEREBY THE TWO ELEMENTS MAY THEREAFTER BE ROCKED ABOUT SAID AXIS TOWARD SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR RELATION AND THEIR RESPECTIVE INTERFITTED KEY STRUCTURE AND GROOVE-DEFINING PORTIONS ARE THEN EFFECTIVE TO TRANSMIT STRESSES FROM ONE TO ANOTHER OF SAID ELEMENTS AT ALL ANGLES TO SAID AXIS, AND MEANS SPACED FROM THE RELIEVED PORTION OF SAID KEY STRUCTURE COMMUNICATING WITH EACH OF SAID PLANK ELEMENTS FOR EFFEDTING A SEAL THEREBETWEEN. 